One
day the calf slipped and fell down in the valley below the hill. The cow leapt after her
offspring to save it, the result was, both were dead. The pupil, who was supposed to be
keeping an eye on the cow,realised rather late what had happened He thought to
himself that it was his neglect that had led to the cow's death. He was thus guilty of
Govadha, a sin unspeakably horrible. He decided to follow the cow downs the cliff and this
inflict self-punishment—a prayashchitta, The young lad having made up his mind hurled
himself from the hill-top. But instead of dashing against rocks and boulders he landed
into the arms of a sturdy person. Greatly surprised at this. The pupil started to thank
the stranger. The latter enquired about the cause of the action the young boy had taken
and upon learning of it, changed himself into his true form. And who else could it be than
Shiva himself? By the grace of god the cow and her little one became alive again. The boy
then asked Shiva for a boon hat no body should be hurt from a fall off this precipice.
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